SOUTH AFRICAN COUNCIL FOR EDUCATORS

CODE OF PROFESSIONAL ETHICS

DEFINITIONS
1. In this Code, unless the context indicates otherwise any word or phrase defined in the
South African Council for Educators Act, 2000 has that meaning and:
(i)

Code means the Code of Professional Ethics of the South African Council for
Educators;

(ii)

Council means the South African Council for Educators;

(iii) Educator means any educator registered or provisionally registered with the
Council;
(iv) Learner means a pupil or a student at any early learning site, school, further education and training institution or adult learning centre;
(v)

parent means:
(a) any natural parent or guardian of a learner;
(b) any person legally entitled to custody of a learner; and
(c) any person who undertakes to fulfil the obligations of a person referred to in
paragraphs (a) or (b) towards the learners education at school.
GENERAL

2. The educators who are registered or provisionally registered with the South African
Council for Educators:
2.1 acknowledge the noble calling of their profession to educate and train the learners
of our country;
2.2 acknowledge that the attitude, dedication, self-discipline, ideals, training and con
duct of the teaching profession determine the quality of education in this country;
2.3 acknowledge, uphold and promote basic human rights, as embodied in the
Constitution of South Africa;
2.4 commit themselves therefore to do all within their power, in the exercising of their
CODE OF PROFESSIONAL ETHICS

professional duties, to act in accordance with the ideals of their profession, as

expressed in this Code; and
2.5 act in a proper and becoming way such that their behaviour does not bring the
teaching profession into disrepute.
CONDUCT:THE EDUCATOR AND THE LEARNER
3. An educator:
3.1 respects the dignity, beliefs and constitutional rights of learners and in particular
children, which includes the right to privacy and confidentiality;
3.2 acknowledges the uniqueness, individuality, and specific needs of each learner, guiding and encouraging each to realise his or her potentialities;
3.3 strives to enable learners to develop a set of values consistent with the fundamental rights contained in the Constitution of South Africa;
3.4 exercises authority with compassion;
3.5 avoids any form of humiliation, and refrains from any form of abuse, physical or psychological;
3.6 refrains from improper physical contact with learners;
3.7 promotes gender equality;
3.8 refrains from any form of sexual harassment (physical or otherwise) of learners;
3.9 refrains from any form of sexual relationship with learners at any school;
3.10 uses appropriate language and behaviour in his or her interaction with learners, and
acts in such a way as to elicit respect from the learners;
3.11 takes reasonable steps to ensure the safety of the learner;
3.12 does not abuse the position he or she holds for financial, political or personal gain;
3.13 is not negligent or indolent in the performance of his or her professional duties;
and
3.14 recognises, where appropriate, learners as partners in education.
CODE OF PROFESSIONAL ETHICS

CONDUCT:THE EDUCATOR AND THE PARENT

4. An educator, where appropriate:
4.1 recognises the parents as partners in education, and promotes a harmonious relationship with them; and
4.2 does what is practically possible to keep parents adequately and timeously
informed about the well-being and progress of the learner.
CONDUCT:THE EDUCATOR AND THE COMMUNITY
5. An educator:
5.1 recognises that an educational institution serves the community, and therefore
acknowledges that there will be differing customs, codes and beliefs in the community; and
5.2 conducts him/herself in a manner that does not show disrespect to the values, customs and norms of the community.
CONDUCT:THE EDUCATOR AND HIS OR HER COLLEAGUES
6. An educator:
6.1 refrains from undermining the status and authority of his or her colleagues;
6.2 respects the various responsibilities assigned to colleagues and the authority that
arises therefrom, to ensure the smooth running of the educational institution;
6.3 uses proper procedures to address issues of professional incompetence or misbehaviour;
6.4 promotes gender equality and refrains from sexual harassment (physical or other
wise) of his or her colleagues;
6.5 uses appropriate language and behaviour in his or her interactions with colleagues;
6.6 avoids any form of humiliation, and refrains from any form of abuse (physical or oth
erwise) towards colleagues.

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CONDUCT:THE EDUCATOR AND THE PROFESSION

7. An educator:
7.1 acknowledges that the exercising of his or her professional duties occurs within a
context requiring co-operation with and support of colleagues;
7.2 behaves in a way that enhances the dignity and status of the teaching profession and
that does not bring the profession into disrepute;
7.3 keeps abreast of educational trends and developments;
7.4 promotes the ongoing development of teaching as a profession;
7.5 accepts that he or she has a professional obligation towards the education and
induction into the profession of new members of the teaching profession.
CONDUCT:THE EDUCATOR AND HIS OR HER EMPLOYER
8. An educator:
8.1 recognises the employer as a partner in education;
8.2 acknowledges that certain responsibilities and authorities are vested in the employer through legislation, and serves his or her employer to the best of his or her ability;
8.3 refrains from discussing confidential and official matters with unauthorised persons.
CONDUCT:THE EDUCATOR AND THE COUNCIL
9. An educator:
9.1 makes every effort to familiarise him/herself and his/her colleagues with the provisions of the Code;
9.2 complies with the provisions of this Code;
9.3 discloses all relevant information to the Council;
9.4 informs Council and/or relevant authorities of alleged or apparent breaches of the
Code within his/her knowledge;

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9.5 co-operates with the Council to the best of his or her ability; and
9.6 accepts and complies with the procedures and requirements of the Council, including but not limited to the Registration Procedures, the Disciplinary Procedures of
the Council and the payment of compulsory fees.
DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES
1. Introduction
1.1 This document must be read together with the provisions of the South African
Council for Educators Act, 2000 (Act 31 of 2000).
1.2 The purpose of this document is to provide a fair procedure governing the investigation and hearing of alleged breaches of the code of professional ethics for educators.
1.3 The Council commits itself through these procedures to the development of a high
standard of ethics governing the teaching profession.
1.4 These procedures are intended to be corrective and not punitive, where this is
possible and desirable taking into account the interests of the teaching profession
as
a whole.
2. Functions of the disciplinary committee
2.1 The disciplinary committee must:
2.1.1

ensure that alleged breaches of the code are investigated;

2.1.2

establish investigating panels to investigate alleged breaches of the code;

2.1.3

establish disciplinary panels to conduct disciplinary hearings into alleged

breaches of the code;

2.1.4

ensure that disciplinary hearings are fair and comply with the procedures
set out in this document; and

2.1.5

on the basis of recommendations received from disciplinary panels,

recommend findings and appropriate sanctions if any, to the Council in
respect of breaches of the code.

2.2 The members of investigating and disciplinary panels established by the disciplinary
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committee need not be members of the Council.

3. Investigation of alleged breaches of the code
3.1 Any person who believes that an educator has breached the code may lodge a complaint with the Council.
3.2 The complaint should preferably:
3.2.1

be in writing; and

3.2.2

clearly disclose the alleged breach of the code.

3.3 The disciplinary committee may investigate any alleged breach of the code, whether
or not a complaint has been lodged.
3.4 The chief executive officer must, as soon as practicable possible after receiving a
complaint, process such a complaint up to and including prosecution stage
3.5 The disciplinary committee must refer an alleged breach to an investigating panel
for investigation.
3.6 An investigating panel may, in investigating any alleged breach of the code:
3.6.1

interview complainants and other possible witnesses;

3.6.2

subject to clause 3.7, may interview the educator who is alleged to have
breached the code;

3.6.3

notify the educator of the alleged breach and, subject to clause 3.7, give
the educator an opportunity to respond within the period specified in
that notice;

3.6.4

gather evidence relevant to the alleged breach; and

3.6.5

if necessary, cause summons to be served on any person who may assist

the panel in its investigation as contemplated in section 14(4) of the Act.

3.7 Before interviewing an educator as contemplated in clause 3.6.2, and in any notice
contemplated in clause 3.6.3, the investigating panel must warn the educator:
3.7.1

of the educators right against self-incrimination; and

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3.7.2

that any admission or explanation given by the educator may be used as

evidence against the educator at a disciplinary hearing.

3.8

The investigating panel must keep a record of the investigation.

3.9

If an investigating panel is satisfied that there is sufficient evidence of a breach

of the code by an educator, the disciplinary committee may refer the matter
to a disciplinary panel for hearing.

3.10 A member of a panel that has investigated an alleged breach of the code cannot
serve as a member of the disciplinary panel which hears the matter.
4. The disciplinary hearing
4.1 Once a matter has been referred for hearing by a disciplinary committee, the chief
executive officer must issue a summon to the educator who has allegedly breached
the code.
4.2 The summons must disclose:
4.2.1

the nature of the alleged breach;

4.2.2

the date, time and venue of the disciplinary hearing;

4.2.3

the educators right to be represented at the disciplinary hearing, including the right to legal representation;

4.2.4

the educators right to call witnesses to give evidence and to produce

books, documents and other items in support of the educators case; and

4.2.5

the educators right to make written submissions against any recommendation of the disciplinary panel to the disciplinary committee.

4.3 The summons must be served to the relevant postal, employment and/or residential address appearing on the SACE register by way of:
4.3.1

delivery by hand;

4.3.2

telefax; or

4.3.3

registered post.

4.4 The date on which the summons is served is regarded as, in the case of:
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4.4.1

service by hand, the date of delivery;

4.4.2

service by telefax, the dispatching date reflected on the telefax; and

4.4.3

service by registered post, the date on which the letter was signed for in
the absence of proof to the contrary.

4.5

The summons must be served on the accused at least ten (10) working days
before the date of the disciplinary hearing.

4.6

If in the opinion of the panel, the offence committed is of such a nature that
the accused educator could commit said similar offence or worse, the panel
may decide to proceed with the matter in the absence of proof of delivery of
the summons.

4.7

The chief executive officer may issue a subpoena to any other person to attend
the disciplinary hearing in order to give evidence or to produce any books, doc
uments or other items.

4.8

If the educator, who is summoned to attend, fails to attend a disciplinary hearing, the disciplinary panel may deal with the matter in the absence of the educator.

4.9

A witness who attends a disciplinary hearing is entitled to such allowance as

the Council may from time to time determine.

4.10

Any educator, who fails to attend a disciplinary hearing when subpoenaed to

do so, or fails to stay in attendance until excused by the disciplinary panel, commits an offence and is liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding a months
salary.

5. Procedure at the disciplinary hearing

5.1 The disciplinary panel may exclude any person or category of from attending a dis
ciplinary hearing:
5.11.

on reasonable grounds; or

5.1.2

if the orderly conduct of the inquiry so requires.

5.2 The disciplinary panel may postpone or adjourn a disciplinary hearing:

5.2.1

at its discretion; or

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5.2.2

on the request of any party to the hearing, prior to the date set for hearing;

5.3 A postponement will not be granted where a particular educators representative

is otherwise engaged on the hearing date.
5.4 The disciplinary committee may appoint one or more suitably qualified assessors to
be present at a disciplinary hearing, and to advise the disciplinary panel on matters
of law, procedure and evidence, or other matters requiring specific expertise.
5.5 An educator charged with an alleged breach of the code is entitled to representation, including legal representation at any disciplinary hearing.
5.6 The disciplinary panel must:
5.6.1

record the evidence at a hearing; and

5.6.2

administer an oath or affirmation to any witness at a hearing.

5.7 At the commencement of the hearing, the disciplinary panel must:

5.7.1

put the charge to the educator and ask the educator to plead to the
charge;

5.7.2

inform the educator of the educators rights:

(a)

to representation, including legal representation;

(b)

against self-incrimination;

(c)

to an interpreter; and

(d)

to adduce evidence and challenge evidence at the hearing.

5.8 If the educator:

5.8.1

pleads guilty to the charge, the disciplinary panel must decide whether or
not to hear evidence regarding the charge;

5.8.2

pleads not guilty, the disciplinary panel must hear the evidence regarding
the charge;

5.8.3

refuses or fails to plead, the disciplinary panel must enter a plea of not

CODE OF PROFESSIONAL ETHICS

guilty and must hear evidence regarding the charge.

5.9 If the educator charged with a breach of the code fails to attend the disciplinary
hearing, and the disciplinary panel decides to proceed with the matter in the
absence of the educator, it must enter a plea of not guilty and hear evidence regard
ing the charge.
5.10 If the disciplinary panel decides to hear evidence pertaining to the charge, every
party to a hearing or the partys representative is entitled to:
5.10.1

lead evidence in support of their case;

5.10.2

cross-examine any witness of an opposing party; and

5.10.3

re-examine any witness led by that party.

5.11 Members of the disciplinary panel may question any witness at the hearing.
5.12 The record of any evidence of a breach of the code in any criminal proceedings or
disciplinary proceedings by an employer constitutes prima facie evidence of such
breach by an educator for purposes of a disciplinary hearing in terms of the Act.
6. Recommendation of the disciplinary panel
6.1 The disciplinary panel must make its recommendation on whether or not there has
been a breach only after:
6.1.1

evidence has been completed; and

6.1.2

every party to an inquiry has been given a fair opportunity to be heard.

6.2 If the disciplinary panel recommends that the educator has breached the code, the
panel must request the parties to make representations on an appropriate sanction.
This may include the leading of further evidence, including evidence on any previous convictions of the educator for breaches of the code. A certificate issued by
the chief executive officer containing details of any previous convictions constitutes
prima facie evidence of such previous convictions.
6.3 If the disciplinary panel recommends that the educator has breached the code and
recommends a sanction it must:
6.3.1

record its recommendations;

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6.3.2

inform the educator in writing of its recommendations; and

6.3.3

submit a presiding officers report of the hearing and its recommenda

tions to the disciplinary committee.

7. Recommendation of the disciplinary committee

7.1 On the basis of the recommendation of the disciplinary panel the disciplinary committee must recommend a finding and an appropriate sanction, if any, to the
Council.
8. Decisions of the Council
8.1 The Council, after considering the recommendation by the disciplinary committee
and submissions by the educator concerned, if any, may:
8.1.1

accept, reject or substitute the recommendation of the disciplinary committee wholly or in part

8.2 The Council may impose the following sanctions on an educator who is found guilty
of a breach of the code:
8.2.1

a caution or reprimand;

8.2.2

a fine not exceeding one months salary; or

8.2.3

the removal of the educators name from the register for a specified
period or indefinitely, or subject to specific conditions.

8.3 Pending the completion of a disciplinary hearing, Council may request from an
employer, the immediate suspension of an accused educator where said suspension
would be in the interest of learners.
8.4 The Council may suspend any sanction contemplated in clause 8.2 for a period and
on conditions determined by it.
8.5 The Council must inform the educator in writing of its decision.
8.6 The Councils decision is final.
8.7 The Council:
8.7.1

may publish such information relating to the hearing as it deems reason

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able; and
8.7.2

must not publish information relating to a hearing which reveals or may

reveal the identity of any person affected by the proceedings who
is under the age of eighteen (18) years.

9. Appeal against the decision of the council.

9.1 Any educator who is found guilty of a breach of the SACE Code of Ethics may,
appeal to the Council against the recommended findings or sanction of the disciplinary committee or against both.
9.2 The appeal must be lodged with the Chief Executive Officer, within (5) five working days after the Council has informed the accused of its decision or sanction.
9.3 The CEO must appoint an Appeals Committee of at least 3 independent persons
selected from a list of panellists approved by council to hear the appeal.
9.4 A person hearing an appeal must not have been a member of the Investigation Panel
or Hearing Panel, which dealt with the matter.
9.5 Persons appointed to the Appeals Committee should not be members of the disciplinary committee or Council.
9.6 The appeal should be based on the record of the proceedings of the disciplinary
panel. In exceptional cases, the Appeals Committee may hear new evidence in relation to the appeal but only where such evidence was not reasonably available at the
time of the disciplinary hearing may have had a material impact on the outcome of
the disciplinary hearing.
9.7 The Appeals Committee must consider the appeal within 30 days after the notice
is delivered to the Chief Executive Officer.
9.8 An accused whose appeal was dismissed by the Appeals Committee may appeal to
the appropriate High Court.
9.9 A person referred to in 9.4 must, after giving notice to the Council, lodge a notice
of appeal with the registrar of the appropriate High Court within one month from
the date of the decision of Council
10. The Appeal
10.1 The appeal referred to in Section 9 above must specify the grounds upon which
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12

the accused believes the finding/s and sanction to be wrong.

10.2 The appellant, the Council and the complainant or their representatives should
be given an opportunity to present argument on the appeal before the Appeal
Committee reaches a decision.
10.3 The Appeals Committee will make a recommendation to the Council based on
their findings.
10.4 The Council, after considering the finding and penalty recommended by the
Disciplinary Committee or the Appeals Committee, may10.4.1

confirm or set aside the finding;

10.4.2

confirm or set aside the sanction; or

10.4.3

refer the matter back to the Disciplinary Committee or Appeals

Committee as case may be for further deliberations.

10.5 A disciplinary finding and sanction only takes effect on confirmation by the
Council.
11. Definitions
In this document, unless the context indicates otherwise, any word or phrase defined in
the South African Council for Educators Act, 2000 has that meaning and:
11.1 Act means the South African Council for Educators Act, 2000 (Act 31 of
2000);
11.2 Appeals Committee means the disciplinary committee of the Council con
templated in section 15 of the Act;
11.3 CEO means the Chief Executive Officer of the Council;
11.4 Code means the code of professional ethics for educators contemplated in
section 5(c)(i) of the Act;
11.5 Council means the South African Council for Educators;
11.6 Disciplinary committee means the disciplinary committee of the Council
contemplated in section 14 of the Act;

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11.7 Educator means any educator registered fully, provisionally or conditionally

with the Council;
11.8 Learner means a pupil or a student at any early learning site, school, further
education and training institution or adult learning centre;
11.9 Register means the register contemplated in section 5(a)(iii) of the Act; and
11.10

Registered address means the address of an educator as it appears in the

register.

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